Tamperproof gas outlet



April 6, 1965 F. J. EICHELMAN 3,176,710

' TAMPERPROOF GAS OUTLET Original Filed March 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. FRANCIS J. EICHELMAN ATTORNEY April 6, 1965 F. J. EICHELMAN TAMPERPROOF GAS OUTLET Original Filed March 21, 1955 2 Shqets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

FIG. 9

ATTORNEY United States Patent 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-383) This invention is concerned generally with outlets in fluid distribution systems, such as those for gases, and it is particularly concerned with the type of outlet which may be manipulated to withdraw gas piped under pressure by means of a plug-in conduit or hose to permit use of the gas or other fluid at a position some little distance from the outlet in much the same manner as the common electrical appliances are plugged into convenience outlets in an electrical system. More particularly the invention is concerned with a tamperproof form of such an outlet whereby the outlet can be quickly operated to place a withdrawal conduit in communication with the distribution system, but this can be done only in response to a suitable key or other appropriate controlling means.

A tamperproof snap connection gas outlet, such as is referred to above, lends itself readily to therapy or hospital type installations, and this is particularly true in mental Wards or institutions where it is necessary to take every precaution to prevent tampering with gas outlets. In this connection, the device also precludes release of gas from the outlet by anyone other than authorized personnel, as well as accidental manipulation. At present, installations of the type referrd to generally employ outlets for gases which are readily operable without a key or other control or limiting means. The hazard involved in unauthorized operation of such gas outlets will be readily appreciated, and it is not only expedient that these outlets be tamperproof, but, additionally, they must not be so complex that operation necessitates substantial effort or loss of time, which in the case of therapeutic uses of gases is of vital importance.

Although the chief use of tamperproof fluid outlets is perceived to be in connection with gas distributing systems in hospitals, mental institutions, medical or dental oflices and the like, it is not inconceivable that such outlets may be employed to good advantage in any number of quite diverse applications. For example, experimental or research stations set up in such a manner that access to them may be had by more than the specified researchers themselves, weather stations, jewelers workshops, ga-

rages, and, for that matter, almost any place where an unauthorized manipulation and release of gases or other fluids would be hazardous or undesired for any reason.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide a fluid outlet which is substantially tamperproof, readily operable by simple control means, and which although relatively simple in construction yetis dependable in operation, particularly in association with gas distributing systems.

These and other objects are achieved by the combination and arrangement of the various parts, and will be readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention and incorporating flush type installation means shown in section. I

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 with the face plate removed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a cover plate for either the flush type outlet mounting box shown in FIG. 1 or the exposed piping box of FIG. 9.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of a tamperproof gas outlet mechanism similar to that sllnown in FIG. 1 but without a mounting box or cover p ate.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of still another embodiment of a tamperproof gas outlet mechanism similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and which like FIG. 5 is shown without a mounting box or cover plate.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 7

and,

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a mounting box for use with exposed piping installations and capable of housing any of the outlet mechanisms shown in the previous figures.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates an open face box or enclosure which may be of a metal stamping or other suitable material, and to the rear wall of which a mounting block 11 provided with a passage for gas is adjustably mounted by suitable means such as screws 12 through limited slots (not shown) in ears 13 extending outwardly from the block 11. Into the front face of the block 11 and so as to communicate with its interior gas passage, there is threaded a female coupling member or socket member indicated generally at 15 and otherwise known as a quick or snap coupling. The member 15 is of the general type which has a barrel 16 rotatably adjustable to open a latching means comprising an internal pair of jaws 16a (FIG. 2) to permit the withdrawal of a tubular male fitting connected to a gas conduit or hose into the socket member 15. For quick or snap connection, the tubular male fitting may be inserteddirectly into valve member 15 without first rotating the barrel 16. The insertion of the male fitting opens a check valve in the female coupling member whereby the tubular fitting is placed in fluid communication with the internal passage in the block 11. Spring means are provided to return the barrel 16 to its normal position upon its release where its jaws grippingly hold the male tubular fitting in sealed gas passing relation with the coupling or socket member 15 and the block 11.

A female coupling or socket member such as has been briefly described above is shown in Williams Patent 2,102,774, to which reference may be had for a more detailed description thereof.

The coupling member 15 is arranged in the box 10 so that its socket end or face 21 projects slightly beyond the open face of the box or enclosure 10.

A dust cap well known in the art prior to applicants invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally designated by numeral 5. It will be observed that the dust cap 5 is for all intents and purposes a dummy male coupling member of the type of member 10 illustrated and described in Williams Patent 2,102,774 referred to above and the disclosure of which has been made a part hereof by such reference. As in the male coupling member of the Williams patent, the dummy male coupling member 5 is provided with a tapered or conical shank 6, and an annular groove 7 to be engaged by the internal jaws of the female coupling or socket member 15. However, there is no gas passage extending through member 5 and shank 6 is not long enough to open the check valve (not shown) in socket member 15 when the members 5 and 15 are engaged. To completely cover the socket opening 21 of the female coupling member 15, the dummy male member 5 is provided with a second annular groove 8 which receives a flexible generally circular cap 9 having a somewhat feathered edge and preferably consisting of rubber.

The open face of the box It] is provided with a closure or cover plate 18 secured to brackets 19 by any suitable keyhole framing eyelet member 25.

means such as screws 20. The closure or cover plate 18 is provided with a central aperture 22 having an outwardly projecting flange or collar 23 which circumscribes the socket end 21 of the coupling member 15 projecting slightly beyond the plane of the cover plate proper but within the collar 23 so that the collar 23 itself projects slightly beyond the end 21 of the coupling 15. p The projecting portion of the collar 23 is provided to circumscribe in flush relation the'flexible portion 9 of the dust cap to cover the socket opening or face 21 of the coupling member 15 when not in use.

Above thecentral opening 22 in the cover plate 18 and preferably to one side thereof, a second opening 24 in the nature of a keyhole is provided (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The keyhole 24 is framed by means of a half eyelet-like member 25, having a reduced shank 27 which is externally threaded for extension rearwardly through the second opening 24 in the cover plate 18. The eyelet member 25 has an axial bore as indicated at 28, and the externally threaded and reduced shank portion 2'7 is counterbored at 25 so that an annular lip 31) is formed in the face of the member 25 with respect to the counterbore 29 and within which a key to be described subsequently may be inserted.

A key operated device for operating the coupling member 15 to facilitate release of the dust cover thus permitting the insertion and subsequently to facilitate withdrawal of the male coupling attachment, includes a screw 31 having a head or cap 32, the latter being provided with a recess or keyway 33. For simplicity, the preferred embodiment is provided with a standard Allen type cap screw, the outside diameter of the head being chosen to permit its free rotation within the counterbore 29 of the The head 32 of the screw 31 is rotatably secured within the counterbore 29 by means of a special nut 34 which is internally threaded to mate with the external threads on the shank 27 of member 15 but is provided at its rear end with an annular lip 35 through which the threaded portion or shank of the screw 31 rotatably projects, but smaller in diameter than the head 32 so that the latter is rotatably secured therein. The nut 34 further serves to clamp the eyelet member 25 firmly to the cover plate 18. A crank arm 37 is threaded by means of a tapped hole near one end onto the threaded shank of the cap screw 31 with sufficient clearance for a free fitting spacing washer 38 between it and the nut 34. Near the other end of the crank arm 3?,there is provided a bore or aperture 39, the purpose for which will be described shortly. The crank arm 37 morevover, is locked to the threaded shank of screw 31 in the position just described, by means of a lock washer and nut 41 abutting thereagainst.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially U-shaped link pin 42 having one leg freely in serted in aperture 39 of the crank arm 37 connects said crank arm 37 and a ring like member 43 by virture of its 1 other leg being loosely inserted within a bore 44 provided for that purpose through the ring 43. The ring 43 is diimensioned to closely fit or circumscribe the rotatable and tubular operating barrel 16 of the female coupling member 15 and may be secured thereto by any suitable means, such as flush set screws 45.

The link pin 42 may normally be secured in freely movable condition relative to the crank arm 37 and the ring 43 by peening over the end of one leg, preferably that peened leg may be longer than the other leg. The plate and attached mec anism is then secured to the box by the screws 29 threaded into the brackets 19 provided on the box for that purpose.

The operation of the device is quite simple but eifective, and requires only a key terminating in a hexagonal portion of the appropriate size to engage the socket of the Allen head cap screw. The key, when inserted in the framed keyhole 24 and turned in the direction indicated by suitable indicia such as indicated in FIG. 4, moves crank lever 37, drawing the link pin 42 upwardly which in turn rotates ring 43 and the barrel 16 of the female coupling or socket member. This causes the retaining jaws therein to part (all described in the heretofore referred to patent) so that the dust cap or cover may be removed so that the male coupling member of the apparatus to be furnished with gas from the outlet may be inserted. Gas through a line 14 which extends from'a supply of gas to the block 11 through a grommet 26 in an aperture therefor in one wall of the box 10, is thereby communicated through the coupling member 15 to the now connected apparatus. The key or tool may be withdrawn and when use of the apparatus is completed and its removal is desired, the protective locking mechanism may again be key or tool manipulated, the male coupling from the conduit or hose connected apparatus withdrawn and the dust cover or cap replaced. The station or outlet is thereby restored to inoperative condition and maintained in that condition against possible tampering or other un authorized operation.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown a modification of the locking arrangement described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3. The mounting block 11, supply tubing 14 therefor and female coupling member 15 having the rotatable barrel 16 are in substantially all respects identical with corresponding elements bearing like reference numerals as are all the elements of the locking arrangement likewise bearing like reference numerals save the crank arm and operating ring members. In this embodiment the crank arm 50 takes the form of a hook or pawl having a finger l ke projection 51 at the free end thereof. The operating ring 52 is in all respects the same as ring 43 and is in fact secured to the barrel 16 of the female coupling memher 15 by similar means such as set screws except that it is provided with a projection or dog 53 against which the finger like projection 51 of the crank arm is directly engageable. The operation of the device equipped with the locking arrangement of this embodiment is the same as that described with respect to the previous embodiment, except, that insertion of the key or tool into the keyway 33 of the Allen screw 31 causes the crank arm 50 rigidly connected thereto to turn and bear directly through its projection 51 against dog 53 thereby moving the ring 52 sufficiently to rotate the barrel lfito operate the coupling or socket member 15 as previously described.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is illustrated still another embodiment of locking arrangement for insuring that only authorized manipulation of the female coupling member 15 will occur. Here as with the last described embodiment, the only elements of the locking arrangement which differ are the crank arm which takes the form of a gear sector-l0 having teeth 71 rigidly secured to the shank of the Allen screw 31 by means of its own threaded mounting thereon in cooperation with lock Washer 4t and nut 41. The operating ring 72 again is like the previously described operating ring 43 and 52, secured to the barrel 16 of the coupling or socket member 15 by means such as set screws 45, except for the provision of a toothed portion 73 in its periphery adjacent the gear sector crank arm andhaving corresponding teeth in mesh therewith. Insertion and turning of the key or tool in the keyway 33 of Allen screw 31 moves the crank gear sector 70 to rotate the ring '72 through the intermeshed gear teeth and the barrel 16 to thereby operate the coupling 15 in the same manner and for the same purposes as described heretofore. In this last described embodiment the gas delivery tubing 14 is shown connected to the mounting block 11 by alternative nipple and connector nut means 74 and 75 and which is equally applicable to the other embodiments or vice versa.

Any of the previously described embodiments may be mounted either into an enclosure such as box (FIG. 1) adapted for concealed piping installations, that is, all piping including that such as 14 as well as the box 10 being enclosed within a wall, floor or the like with only the open side of the box or enclosure substantially flush with the surface thereof, such mountings being facilitated by mounting brackets 36 readily attachable to lath or other supports, or into an enclosure or box 90 as illustrated in FIG. 9. This latter box is designed for external or exposed piping installations and is mounted by suitable means to the appropriate structure through holes 91 provided for that purpose in its rear wall 92. The rear Wall is preferbaly separable from the remainder of the box which may then be secured thereto by means of elongated bolts 93 extending through face flanges 94 and threaded into tapped holes or boxes in the rear plate 92. Alternatively, the walls 92, flanges 94, and intermediate walls 95 of the box 90 may be integral. An aperture 96 is provided to accommodate a suitable grommet and gas conveying pipe or tubing. Moreover, regardless of the type of box or enclosure employed, and which choice will be dictated by the particular installation involved, each is adapted to receive an identical cover plate 18 (FIG. 4) secured thereto by screws 20. In the flush type mounting such as illustrated in FIG. 1, the plate 18 is of larger dimensions than the box 10 so that only the face plate and coupling face 21 are visible. The dimensions of box 90 on the other hand are preferably substantially the same as that of plate 18 so that its edges do not overlap the outside of the box proper.

As mentioned previously, in mounting the face plate 18 on either of the types of boxes 10 and 90, and regardless of the embodiment of locking device involved, care should be taken to see to the proper engagement of the locking linkage 42, 50, or 70 as the case may be, with the corresponding operating ring means 43, 52, or 72.

This application is a continuation of co-pending application Serial No. 495,490, filed March 21, 1955, now abandoned.

In view of the fact that the objects of this invention noted hereinbefore are capable of being accomplished by other than the specific arrangement and combinationof elements illustrated and described, it is intended that all such other arrangements and combinations as are suggested hereby to those skilled in the art and coming within the spirit of this invention, are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a therapy fluid distribution outlet of the type having a socket coupling member connected to a fluid line which socket member includes an internal latch member biased toward a latching position, the socket member being adapted to receive and releasably hold a male coupling member, the male coupling member having conformations adapted to receive the internal latch member thereby to hold the members in coupled relation, an open face box-like enclosure surrounding the socket coupling member, and a cover plate mounted over the open face of said enclosure, said plate having an opening in alignment with said socket coupling member to receive a male coupling member, the improvement comprising a male dummy or plug coupling member for obstructing said opening when not in use, key-operated means in the enclosure adjoining the cover plate for controlling the elease of a male coupling member from the socket coupling member, said key-operated means including movable linkage means, linkage engaging means cooperating with said linkage means for effecting the disengagement of the internal jaw member from a male coupling member on operation of said key-operated means by a key, and said cover plate having a keyhole formed therein in communication with said linkage means, so that a key in said keyhole may be operated from outside said enclosure without removing the cover plate, thereby to release a male coupling member held by said socket member rendering said socket member accessible to another male coupling member through said opening.

2. In a hospital fluid distribution outlet of the type having a socket coupling member connected to a gas line which socket member includes an internal jaw member biased toward a closed position, the socket member being adapted to receive a male coupling member attached to either a conduit or a cover and having a conformation with means to receive the internal jaw member to hold the members in coupled relation, the improvement comprising an enclosure for the socket coupling member, a cover plate for said enclosure, said plate having an opening in alignment with said socket coupling member to receive a male coupling member, and key-operated means within said enclosure adjoining the cover plate for controlling the release of the male coupling member, said means including a linkage for rotating a barrel on the socket member to open the internal jaw member to disengage the internal jaw from a male coupling member, and linkage engaging means including a ring mounted on the outer periphery of the barrel and. in fixed relation therewith having means to interlock with said linkage, and a key opening in said cover plate opposite said key operated means in said linkage so that a key inserted through said key opening may be turned to move said linkage to rotate the barrel thereby to release a male coupling member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A THERAPY FLUID DISTRIBUTION OUTLET OF THE TYPE HAVING A SOCKET COUPLING MEMBER CONNECTED TO A FLUID LINE WHICH SOCKET MEMBER INCLUDES AN INTERNAL LATCH MEMBER BIASED TOWARD A LATCHING POSITION, THE SOCKET MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND RELEASABLY HOLD A MALE COUPLING MEMBER, THE MALE COUPLING MEMBER HAVING CONFORMATIONS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE INTERNAL LATCH MEMBER THEREBY TO HOLD THE MEMBERS IN COUPLED RELATION, AN OPEN FACE BOX-LIKE ENCLOSURE SURROUNDING THE SOCKET COUPLING MEMBER, AND A COVER PLATE MOUNTED OVER THE OPEN FACE OF SAID ENCLOSURE, SAID PLATE HAVING AN OPENING IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SOCKET COUPLING MEMBER TO RECEIVE A MALE COUPLING MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A MALE DUMMY OR PLUG COUPLING MEMBER FOR OBSTRUCTING SAID OPENING WHEN NOT IN USE, KEY-OPERATED MEANS IN THE ENCLOSURE ADJOINING THE COVER PLATE FOR CONTROLLING THE RELEASE OF A MALE COUPLING MEMBER FROM THE SOCKET COUPLING MEMBER, SAID KEY-OPERATED MEANS INCLUDING MOVABLE LINKAGE MEANS, LINKAGE ENGAGING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID LINKAGE MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE DISENGASGEMENT OF THE INTERNAL JAW MEMBER FROM A MALE COUPLING MEMBER ON OPERATION OF SAID KEY-OPERATED MEANS BY A KEY, AND SAID COVER PLATE HAVING A KEYHOLE FORMED THEREIN IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID LINKAGE MEANS, SO THAT A KEY IN SAID KEYHOLD MAY BE OPERATED FROM OUTSIDE SAID ENCLOSURE WITHOUT REMOVING THE COVER PLATEN, THEREBY TO RELEASE A MALE COUPLING MEMBER HELD BY SAID SOCKET MEMBER RENDERING SAID SOCKET MEMBER ACCESSIBLE TO ANOTHER MALE COUPLING MEMBER THROUGH SAID OPENING. 